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I know a lot of you guys have been dabbling with bands on your exercises. However, depending on your strength level and desired effect, there is a certain amount of band tension you want to use. I noticed many of you guys are struggling selecting the right tension.Well there is a product to assist in this. And it is your basic hanging scale, just like the one you use at the grocery store to measure produce. I purchased a digital one off Amazon. Here it is: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012T9QNA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1You just hook the band and pull up to the point where you would want to measure the band tension (most likely the top of the lift). Then look at the display and take note of the measurement.This one is $13 and measures up to 44 lbs or 20 kg. That will pretty much cover everyone's needs.You could use this for chains too.
Good idea.Hmmm... you could also measure band pull with bathroom scales if you have a secure overhead mount/rack/etc. to connect the band.1. Weigh yourself.2. Attach the band securely overhead.3. Pull band desired amount while standing on the scales, and note the weight.4. Subtract the difference.The pull-type scales wouldn't require an overhead mount though, so it's probably a better approach for most folks.Just a thought. 🙂
Good idea.Hmmm... you could also measure band pull with bathroom scales if you have a secure overhead mount/rack/etc. to connect the band.1. Weigh yourself.2. Attach the band securely overhead.3. Pull band desired amount while standing on the scales, and note the weight.4. Subtract the difference.The pull-type scales wouldn't require an overhead mount though, so it's probably a better approach for most folks.Just a thought. 🙂
Not a bad idea if you train at home, however for the gym, this is much more practical. Though I would say your method would work better if you just looped the band under the bathroom scale and applied the appropriate strain on the band. Then you would take the scale reading and subtract your weight. Not only do I think it would be more accurate, but it would not require an overhead mount.
I thought about that, but it would require a bit more math unless you normally use the band doubled. Also not sure how much stretch would be lost going across the bottom surface with your weight on it (or whether that would matter).You could compare that method to the pull-scales and see how it looks though.
I thought about that, but it would require a bit more math unless you normally use the band doubled. Also not sure how much stretch would be lost going across the bottom surface with your weight on it (or whether that would matter).You could compare that method to the pull-scales and see how it looks though.
Unless you have a special band hook, you are generally using a plate to secure the band to the ground. Not quite sure what you mean about using the band doubled. The bands don't have to be doubled to measure them with the way I mentioned.
If you loop it around the scales and pull both ends, it is doubled.Just to clarify... I've never used bands, so we may have a communications gap. ;D[EDIT] Ah, wait a sec. Are the bands in a full loop already? I had visions of an attachment point on each end of a single strand._
If you loop it around the scales and pull both ends, it is doubled.Just to clarify... I've never used bands, so we may have a communications gap. ;D[EDIT] Ah, wait a sec. Are the bands in a full loop already? I had visions of an attachment point on each end of a single strand._
Oh ok. Yea I was talking about the bands used for strength training which are a loop. I wasn't referring to the exercise bands with handles. That would explain the confusion.
Good to know, thanks.Pulling with it looped on the scale will add to the displayed weight rather than reduce it though, but that shouldn't be an issue if the scale's capacity isn't exceeded.On a side note... older mechanical scales have an outer housing which moves up/down to operate the spring scale inside. Putting the band directly around one of these might hinder movement a bit when pulled upward while tight against the sides of the scale. Using a plate (as you mentioned) underneath, and larger than the scale, should eliminate this problem though. And then again, the drag may not be enough to matter.Interesting thread. 🙂
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